March 26, 2025, SEOUL, KOREA – KiiiKiii, Dragon Pony and dearALICE ― the attention-grabbing rookie stars from Kakao Entertainment’s music labels are charting their trajectory toward global stardom, shaping a new era in the K-pop scene. Bolstered by unique sounds and concepts, these emerging artists are not only making splashes on major music charts but also taking the stage at renowned festivals, where they can show off their talents and prowess.

KiiiKiii: Gen Z act from Starship Entertainment ― home to IVE

KiiiKiii from Starship Entertainment ― home to A-list girl group IVE ― officially debuted with the album “UNCUT GEM” on March 24. The rookie act consists of five members: Jiyu, Leesol, Sui, Haum and Kya.

“UNCUT GEM” carries six songs including the lead single “I DO ME,” which sparked pre-debut buzz for KiiiKiii, as well as “BTG (BEEN THAT GIRL.)” The music video of “I DO ME,” emphasizing KiiiKiii’s musical identity of living independent and self-determined lives, has amassed more than 10 million views on YouTube while entering the top ranks on QQ Music and Line Music in rare accomplishments for a newcomer. “BTG,” a tune that breaks the boundaries between hip-hop and EDM, boasts a contrasting aura, according to the members.

“We mostly displayed our natural sides with ‘I DO ME,’ but for ‘BTG,’ we want to highlight our cool energy,” Haum said during a recent press event. Sui added, “This time, KiiiKiii will showcase cool rapping and performances. We hope many people will see them as fresh.”

Also included in the album are the congratulatory “DEBUT SONG,” the witty “GROUNDWORK,” the combinative “THERE THEY GO,” as well as the retro-tinged, “ONE OFF,” all of which demonstrate KiiiKiii’s broad musical spectrum.

“Like the title of our album, we think it’s crucial to reveal our naturalness instead of fitting into standards,” Haum said. “By exhibiting our own colors and Gen-Z mood, we will grow as artists who can bring happiness and comfort to people.”  

The quintet’s latest content is a hot-talking point as well. Its special content series, “liKeKiiiKiii” ― produced by Kakao Entertainment’s global K-pop media brand 1theK that has over 34 million subscribers worldwide ― has attracted nearly 4 million views in total, presenting diverse videos featuring the members’ acoustic performances and unique live sessions. KiiiKiii will further extend its winning streak by taking part in KCON JAPAN, a flagship Korean music and culture festival set to take place in Chiba prefecture in May.

Dragon Pony: One of best rookies in Korean band music scene

Antenna’s new boy band Dragon Pony ― composed of vocalist An Tae-gyu, bassist Pyun Sung-hyun, guitarist Kwon Se-hyuk, and drummer Ko Gang-hun ― is another breakout group in the spotlight. With all four members exceling in writing lyrics, composing, and producing, Dragon Pony has swiftly expanded its global footprints since its September debut.

Notably, the four-piece band has been showing off their musical prowess through diverse live performances and actively engaging with fans. It is poised to hold its first solo concert “Dragon Pony 1^st Concert ‘Not Out’ in Seoul” on May 3-4, before performing in Taipei on May 23-24. Tickets for all shows sold out immediately after going on sale, proving the band’s growing popularity. Initially, Dragon Pony had planned to stage only one concert in Taipei on May 24, but the surging demand has prompted Antenna to organize an additional show.

“We will perform all the tracks from our new album live, while also playing our previous songs in newly arranged versions exclusive to our concerts,” An Tae-gyu said during a press event in Seoul.

Dragon Pony, dubbed one of the best rookies in the Korean band music scene, recently dropped its 2nd EP “Not Out.” For “Not Out,” all members participated in the creative process as main producers, boasting their artistic talents. Through the album, the band presents the zealous music of “incomplete boys,” unfolding the story of its endless chase for dreams amidst the uncertainty of youth.

The lead track “Not Out,” brimming with intense musical energy, portrays the youth challenging their dreams. Antenna’s CEO You Hee-yeol took part in penning its lyrics.

“The youth living these days sometimes get weary and feel frustrated,” said Pyun Sung-hyun. “But we want to tell them that it’s not over yet ― it’s just the beginning. We wanted to hear those words ourselves too, which is why we titled our song, ‘Not Out.’”

The new EP offers the sub-title track “NEVER” as well, characterized by intensifying rock sounds and the compelling vocals of the Dragon Pony members. Also featured in the album are “Waste,” “To. Nosy Boy,” and “On Air.” With the “Not Out” EP, Dragon Pony re-illuminates the value of imperfection while sharing the shining energy that can still be found in this world.  

Dragon Pony has been making waves at high-profile music festivals, too. On Feb. 22, it performed at the large-scale EMERGE FEST 2025 in Taichung. In December, the band became the talk of the town among Thai fans for its riveting performance at the local festival, Big Mountain Music Festival.

“We dream of becoming a headliner at the Glastonbury Festival,” said Ko Gang-hun, referring to the UK’s biggest music festival.

dearALICE: British boy band fusing British pop and K-pop

dearALICE, the British boy group launched by Kakao Entertainment and SM Entertainment, has embarked on its much-anticipated musical adventure with the official debut in February.

The band’s debut single “Ariana” ― an electro pop dance track that sings of a complex love for an unattainable woman ― reached the No. 2 spot on the UK’s Official Physical Singles Chart and hit No. 3 on the Singles Sales Chart as of Feb. 28. The song is a combination of sensational sound, dearALICE’s dynamic energy, and captivating vocals, which easily creates an addictive appeal.

After generating significant buzz with its eye-catching “Ariana” music video, dearALICE is steadily building a fanbase in the UK and beyond. It recently introduced its song on BBC Radio 1, graced the cover of FAULT Magazine and performed at the “Gaydio Pride Awards 2025.”

Additional Highlights

Kakao Entertainment’s partner SM Entertainment has successfully launched the new girl group Hearts2Hearts, which put out its single album “The Chase,” Feb. 24. The lead track of the same name, marked by dreamy sound and vocal melodies, imparts the group’s self-assuring message that it will forge its path on its own. Its music video garnered a whopping 14 million views on YouTube ― a testament to its rapidly growing presence. In May, the octet will appear at “iHeartRadio Wango Tango 2025,” a large-scale music festival in the U.S.

On top of that, Starship Entertainment is poised to debut a new boy group this year through the newly launched global project, “Debut’s Plan.” It captures the roller-coaster journey of the company’s idol trainees, who will compete to join the upcoming group following a series of evaluations and votes.